ELTC H2014: Interfacing

Electronics

Short Title: Interfacing Electronics APPROVED

Full Title: Interfacing Electronics

Module Code: ELTC H2014

ECTS credits: 5

NFQ Level: 6

Module Delivered in 3 programme(s)

Module Contributor: Raymond Manley

Module Description:
This module presents the student with practical knowledge and the basic concepts of interfacing electronics
and it’s applications in electronic systems design. It will introduce theoretical concepts of transducers and
digital interfacing. The module will provide the student with knowledge of the design of microprocerssor-
controlled circuits and the relevant software. The student will be able to manufacture and test simple
interfacing circuits and contribute as part of a team to design of more complex systems.

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to

1. Understand and have knowledge of the following - Transducers characteristics and interfacing requirements. -
Fundamentals of interfacing circuits and devices. - Analogue to digital converters and digital to analogue converters. -
Fundamentals of operational amplifiers. - Digital input/output programming. - Design, construction and testing of basic
interfacing circuits.
2. Use industry standard techniques to design and implement basic microprocessor controlled digital and mixed signal
circuits.
3. Manufacture and test simple devices, which demonstrate the various interfacing techniques and will be able to produce
acceptable presentations of their work.

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Module Content & Assessment

Indicative Content

Transducers
Typical characteristics of transducers and their interface requirements. Properties of selected transducers for temperature, position, flow
and pressure measurements. Selection criteria. Design examples of interfacing relays, pressure and temperature transducers to a
microprocessor/microcontroller. Signal integrity.

Interfacing
TTL / CMOS electrical characteristics. Use of buffers / line drivers. Output drive characteristics. Need for isolation. Use of opto-couplers.

Analogue-to-Digital and Digital-to-Analogue Conversion

Basic definitions: accuracy, conversion times, range, resolution, linearity, settling time. Conversion techniques: ADC: dual slope integration,
successive approximation and tracking types. Commercially available devices. Specification of devices, data formats serial or parallel. DAC:
resistor ladder circuit, R-2R network. Commercially available devices. Specification of devices.

Operational Amplifiers
Introduction to the differential amplifier. Operational amplifier transfer characteristics. Ideal and non-ideal amplifier characteristics. Inverting
and non-inverting configurations, summing amplifier. Typical parameters of currently available amplifiers, data sheet characteristics. Basic
Op. amp applications.

I/O Programming
Introduction to digital I/O programming. Line I/O, Port I/O. Masking techniques

Current Lab Platform

A platform that uses the PC to program an Arduino microcontroller through the Wiring language (C based) is currently used.

Indicative Assessment Breakdown %

Course Work Assessment % 50.00%

Final Exam Assessment % 50.00%

Course Work Assessment %

Assessment Assessment Description Outcome % of Assessment

Type addressed total Date

Lab work Problem 1&2: Control a set of LED lights from a micro controller or 2,3 10.00 n/a
similar platform using a high level language such as C.

Lab work Problem 3: Control and monitor a temperature based problem from a 1,2,3 15.00 n/a
microcontroller or similar platform using a high level language such as C.

Lab work Problem 4: Use a microcontroller or similar platform using a high level 1,2,3 10.00 n/a
language such as C to create a varying output voltage signal.

Lab work Problem 5: Control a DC motor speed from a microcontroller or similar 1,2,3 15.00 n/a
platform using a high level language such as C.

Final Exam Assessment %

Assessment Type Assessment Description Outcome % of Assessment Date

addressed total

Formal Exam End of semester exam 1,2 50.00 End-of-Semester

Indicative Reassessment Requirement

Repeat examination
Reassessment of this module will consist of a repeat examination. It is possible that there will also be a requirement to be reassessed in a
coursework element.

ITB reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

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Indicative Module Workload & Resources

Resources

Recommended Book Resources

Thomas L. Floyd 2012, Electronic Devices, 9th Ed., Prentice Hall [ISBN: 9780132549868]

Stuart R. Ball 2004, Analog interfacing to embedded microprocessor systems, 2nd Ed., Amsterdam ; Elsevier/Newnes, c2004.
[ISBN: 9780750677233]

This module does not have any article/paper resources

This module does not have any other resources

Module Delivered in

Programme Programme Semester Delivery

Code

BN_ECNG4_8 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Computer Engineering in Mobile Systems [240 ECTS 3 Mandatory
credits]

BN_EELTC_7 Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering [180 ECTS credits] 3 Mandatory

BN_EELTC_C Higher Certificate in Engineering in Computer Engineering [120 ECTS credits] 3 Mandatory

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